are you talking about the guard on the up pipe? Or attached to the peg? I bought my bike with Micron exhaust already on it and it didn't have the heat sheild on the up pipe. 17k miles later still no problems with that. And I do like the looks of the pipe that way.
If you're talking about the little wing shaped guard on your footpeg? ... well, ya need that buddy. For the twisties! :fing02: